Where To Place Window Alarm Sensors

Anatomy
What To Expect For
Installation
Additional Uses
Why Dwelling Security

As well your front door, ground-floor windows are the easiest way for someone to pause in; they're also the best place for you to beef upward security. You lot'll want to practise that with window sensors, also called contact sensors.

Window sensors are unproblematic magnet mechanisms that send up alerts if one of your windows is opened while your security system is armed. Typically, they're wireless, easy to install, and useful for a variety of purposes beyond habitation security. Here's everything yous need to know about how these picayune gadgets work.

How Do Window Sensors Work?

Sensors are composed of 2 parts that line upwards to form a circuit. One part is a magnet and the other is an alert transmitter. When the window opens, information technology separates the magnetic contact between the two sections, which trips an electrical circuit chosen a reed switch. This sends a bespeak to your alarm keypad or domicile security app that someone has opened the window.

Did You lot Know: Most burglars come up in through the front end door, back door, or ground-floor windows. It's a proficient idea to have sensors covering those key spots.

How Are Window Sensors Different From Door Sensors?

Window and door sensors work in the aforementioned fashion. In fact, many security providers make a single entry sensor model for both windows and doors; others sell slightly dissimilar models for each. Either way, both window and door sensors are magnetic devices that monitor whether an entryway is open or closed; window sensors tin can tell when a window, specifically, is closed or opened.

Window Sensor Beefcake

Nearly window sensors are wireless and run on long-lasting batteries. They communicate with control panels via transmitters. The benefit of wireless sensors is quick and piece of cake DIY installation.

Some professionally installed systems nevertheless use wired sensors, which the visitor will ready for you lot by running wires within your walls and connecting them back to the chief alarm control panel. Learn more than virtually DIY vs. professionally installed security systems.

Though size and look vary from i visitor to another, most modern sensors are sleek and inconspicuous. Some companies even offering multiple designs for different placements and aesthetics.

For example, abode offers three different door/window sensor models:

Mini door/window sensors: These accept an exceptionally slim contour that makes them almost disappear into the walls.
Recessed door/window sensors: These are installed inside the door or window frame with a drill. It's elementary to do yourself, and the result is a nearly invisible sensor.
Slim strip sensors: These piece of work all-time on sliding doors and casement windows. The two pieces of the slim strip sensor connect face-to-face and are ultra-discreet. They're only visible when the window is open up.

What To Look For in a Window Sensor

Window sensors are pretty straightforward devices, merely there are some variations to consider. Hither are some features to wait for when choosing your system:

Price: Window sensor prices range from around $xv to $35 apiece, with averages effectually $25. Of all alarm system components, window sensors are amid the least expensive, then variations in price won't make a huge difference in your overall security beak.
Advent: Size and style vary. Some window sensors, like those from Frontpoint, are sleek and inconspicuous. Others may be a bit bulky or have a make logo on them, giving you a less streamlined wait.
Smartphone controls: If you sign upward for a security program that includes smartphone controls, yous'll be able to monitor your window sensors remotely from wherever you are in the world. If someone opens a window while your organization is armed, you'll get a push notification.
Smart home automation: If your organization includes smart habitation automation, yous'll exist able to sync it with other smart dwelling devices. For example, you could ready your smart lights to plow on whenever your windows open. That'll smoothen a light on law-breaking!

Installing a Window Sensor

Y'all'll be surprised by how uncomplicated information technology is to install window sensors. Information technology doesn't crave any technical skills. First, though, here are a couple of tips on which windows could use protection.

Where To Place Window Sensors

Put sensors on all of your footing-flooring windows, since these will be well-nigh attainable to intruders.
Only use window sensors on windows that open. For not-opening windows, consider glass break sensors. Learn more well-nigh glass break sensors in our complete guide to home security systems, or read more almost movement sensors, which notice motility of any kind.1

How To Mount Window Sensors

Once y'all've identified the windows you want to protect, it'southward time to start mounting those sensors. Here's a step-past-step guide:

Clean the wall or window area where you'll be installing sensors. Otherwise, the adhesive might not stick properly.
Use the included agglutinative strip (or screws) to stick the alarm transmitter on the window frame and the magnet on the window pane inside i inch of each other. Depending on your window, you may demand to swap the position of these pieces for the best fit.
If needed, yous can mount either piece at a 90-caste bending, as long as they're less than one inch autonomously. Be sure your placement doesn't go far the way of the window opening or closing.
Activate the sensors according to the instructions that came with your system. For example, yous may be asked to pull a strip on the back of the sensor to activate information technology.
Test your window sensors to be sure they work. To do so, open a window while the arrangement is armed. This should trigger the alert, which you tin can so immediately cancel via the app.

Maintaining Window Sensors

There's very petty involved in maintaining window sensors. Here are a couple of tips:

Cheque the batteries once every half dozen months. Notwithstanding, most modern systems will alert you when the batteries are depression so you'll never forget to supervene upon them.
If you use adhesive strips to mount your sensors, check intermittently to be sure your sensors are still secure, especially when at that place are changes in humidity. If a sensor falls off, it'll trigger a fake alarm.

Additional Uses for Window Sensors

Yous tin use contact sensors for lots of other purposes besides preventing home invasions, such as these:

Monitoring the behavior of rebellious teens: If they effort to slip out of the chamber window, the contact sensor volition trigger the warning.
Preventing children or the elderly from wandering: You'll become an instant alarm if the person you're caring for opens the sliding glass door.
Securing medicine cabinets, jewelry boxes, and other valuables: Identify a sensor on the medicine cabinet to make sure unwanted hands don't go into it.
Smart home automation: Have your smart thermostat adjust if your windows are open up to save energy and reduce your cooling costs. If yous're new to habitation automation, check out our guide to how abode automation works.2

Other Types of Contact Sensors

These are some other types of contact sensors apart from window sensors:

Door sensors: As we mentioned, although they're interchangeable sometimes, some companies make separate contact sensors specifically for doors.
Garage and gate sensors: Some contact sensors are designed specifically to protect garages or gates. Larn more near smart garage doors and garage security systems. Although nearly people overlook their garage's security, contact sensors are a great manner to foreclose car interruption-ins.

Why Y'all Need Home Security

You're reading a page nearly how window alarm sensors work, so you probably already suspect that you need home security, but you may non know all the means it can help you. Here are a few reasons why home security deters crime:

Protection of family and property: The well-nigh obvious and of import reason to become a habitation security organisation is to protect your abode and family. Get home burglary statistics and more in our guide to why you demand a home security system, or read more habitation security tips.
Reduced home insurance premiums: Many abode insurance providers offer discounts for homeowners with security systems installed. Exist sure to find out what your insurance company can do for you. If you piece of work from home, you could besides go a home security organisation taxation deduction, in some cases.
Smart dwelling house automation: A smart home security system tin can give you command of all your smart devices from i central platform. This includes your alarm system, your smart lights, and whatsoever other uniform equipment, like home security cameras and video doorbells.

Recap

Window sensors are affordable, easy to install, and helpful for diverse uses outside of home security. These uncomplicated magnet devices volition alert you lot if someone opens your medicine cabinet or if your child tries to sneak out at night. With remote control, window sensors become even more useful, giving you the power to command your whole household from your smartphone.

FAQs

Here are answers to some of the well-nigh common questions well-nigh window sensors.

Are window sensors constructive?
Yes, window sensors are effective at fending off intruders. If someone opens your window while your system is armed, the window sensor will trigger the alarm. Depending on the features of your alarm service, you may receive an instant mobile notification. If you lot subscribe to professional monitoring, the monitoring middle will be notified immediately.
Exercise I need a window sensor on every window?
No, you don't need a window sensor on every window. You'll want to put them on ground-flooring windows and those that yous believe an intruder could access. You lot should also put them on any windows you desire to monitor in case someone inside the house (like an audacious teen) tries to slip out. Merely y'all don't need sensors on any windows that don't open or that you know are inaccessible from the outside.
How practise you install window sensors?
Here's how to install window sensors, which are typically wireless and backed past adhesives:
1. Stick one slice of the sensor on the window frame and the other on the windowpane, about one inch apart.
2. Activate the sensors according to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Add together them to your abode'due south Wi-Fi network.
4. Proper noun them after the window they're on (east.grand., "front end of the living room" or "bathroom").
5. Exam the sensors to exist certain they piece of work.
Do you lot need window sensors on the 2d floor?
You lot don't need equally many window sensors on the second floor equally you do on the ground floor, only yous may want to protect some second-floor windows. For example, you should protect whatsoever windows a prowler tin can access by a trellis, fire escape, or other means. You can utilise window sensors to monitor whether anyone leaves through an upstairs window equally well. This is a handy manner to go on an eye on precocious teens.